Inhuman "Humanities"

The world's most cultured people were known for the most inhuman behavior.

On Yom HaShoah, Israel's national memorial day for the Holocaust, the media is filled with personal accounts of the survivors of that national catastrophe. The enormity of suffering which they depict makes a listener aware of how inadequate human emotions are in supplying a fitting response.

On an intellectual level, these stories inevitably evoke an important question. Since these atrocities could not have been perpetrated without the active or passive participation of millions of Germans, how could a nation which was then the leader of Western culture -- in art, music, culture and science -- sink to such a level of inhumanity? The explanation usually given is that in the pre-war years the economic and social pressures were so overpowering for Germans, that they could not pay attention to their culture.

A survivor's story casts a new perspective on this issue. In an article in Israeli newspaper, Ha-Aretz, a doctoral student relates the story of her mother who survived Auschwitz because of the latter's musical talents. The infamous Dr. Mengele, medical director of that camp, is well-known for the medical experiments which he performed on concentration camp inmates. These included such "scientific" inquiries as the length of time a man can survive being submerged in freezing water, which level of torture causes unconsciousness; how small children react to physical mutilations, and the like.

Dr. Mengele, who tortured Auschwitz inmates, was a great devotee of classical music.

What is less known about Mengele, at least until this article was published, is that he was a devotee of classical music. In fact, in the same building known as "the experimentation block" there was a "music room" in which he would indulge his talent of violin playing. When the above-mentioned woman arrived at Auschwitz, Mengele noted in her record that she was a pianist and asked her to perform for him. He was so impressed with her talents that he decided to give her special treatment, a privilege that ultimately spared her life.

In addition to the usual slave labor to which all inmates were subjected, this woman had to perform periodically for Mengele, often while the latter would accompany her on his violin. In particular, the article relates, he loved to have her play Shubert's "Serenade" and the religious hymn, "Ave Maria."

So important was music to Mengele, that he trained one of his dogs to be sensitive to every nuance of his favorite compositions. If ever the woman would play a note inaccurately, the dog would pounce on her and viciously bite her. This happened many times when she was forced to perform before Mengele when she was unable to concentrate fully on her playing, such as after she had contracted tuberculosis.

She had at least ten scars all over her body resulting from dog-bites incurred by lapses in her performance.

THE "HUMANITIES"

This story, repeated in different forms throughout the Holocaust, makes clear that it is not enough to explain that Germans turned into barbarians because "they could not pay attention to their culture." In the case of Mengele, we see that even at the very moment that he was engrossed in experiencing the beauty of music, his cultural pursuit did not restrain him from acting like a beast. On the contrary, his esthetic sensitivity -- which made him demand that his enjoyment of music be perfect -- became the reason for his inhuman behavior.

In truth, the question how could cultured Germany or an individual like Mengele commit atrocities is really a non-question. It is based on a false premise, the theory which underlies a liberal arts education. Fine arts, literature and music, this theory has it, refine those who are sensitive to them. They elevate us into "humans," as opposed to animals (hence the term, "the humanities," for the components of this education), and make us sensitive to the finer aspects of life, such as truth and kindness.

The reasoning behind the theory is that since only humans are sensitive to the arts, the more one develops one's artistic sensitivity, the more human -- and less animalistic -- one becomes. The German experience shows, however, that this theory is only so much rubbish.

Art, music and literature, or "culture" have absolutely no bearing on human behavior.

Art, music and literature, or "culture" have absolutely no bearing on human behavior. What elevates a person into becoming a "human" is not the quality of sensation which he experiences but his definition of his humanness. Someone who sees himself as an organism designed for nothing more than survival and stimulation by pleasures essentially defines himself as a two-legged animal; like all animals, he is an organism motivated by instincts for survival and pleasure. The fact that a two-legged animal is able to be sensitive to the sophisticated pleasures of esthetics, does not convert him into a higher being, but merely makes him a more sophisticated animal.

MAN VS. BEAST

A human is different from a beast if he defines himself as a being created for goals unique to humanity. Man is noble if he is able to devote himself to interests other than his personal gratification. If he can devote himself to selfless pursuits -- caring for others or the service of God -- he has become uniquely human, capable of striving towards goals which animals are incapable of achieving.

Beasts are willing to derive their pleasure at the expense of others, even if it means killing them and devouring their flesh. Mengele was, in this sense, a beast. Music, for him, was merely another pleasurable experience, like that derived from power, lust and money. There is nothing unusual in the fact that he believed that this esthetic pleasure was to be pursued even at the expense of others' suffering.

Not only the Germans, but any people that define themselves as two-legged animals, designed to survive and derive pleasurable experiences, have the potential to develop into perpetrators of atrocities. Only a nation which devotes itself to noble ideals can be assured that it will never stoop to Germany's moral level.

PATH OF HISTORY

Two thousand years ago, the Sages taught us a story which was meant to define the difference between the Roman and the Jewish concept of beauty. A Roman emperor decided to put Rabbi Yishmael, the High Priest, to death because he taught Torah to Jews. As the rabbi was being led to his execution, the emperor's daughter was so taken by his beauty that she asked her father to spare the sage's life. When her father refused, she begged him to at least permit her to have Rabbi Yishmael skinned alive so that she could preserve his skin while it was still fresh and then be able to enjoy its beauty. Her wish was granted.

The emperor's daughter had Rabbi Yishmael skinned alive so she could preserve his beautiful skin.

The Sages believed that human beauty is a function of human nobility and can be sensed in the face of someone whose life is so devoted to the service of the Divine that he is willing to give up his life for this. To the Roman emperor's daughter, the source of beauty was immaterial. What was important was that beauty gives pleasure and was an experience meant to be enjoyed.

The correspondence between this story and that of Mengele is remarkable. To the Romans, Rabbi Yishmael's suffering was insignificant compared to the esthetic experience which his freshly peeled skin would provide the emperor's daughter. In Germany two thousand years later, the pianist's suffering was insignificant compared to the esthetic pleasure which a perfect performance would offer the concentration camp director. To both the emperor and Mengele, personal enjoyment was the ultimate value by which all others must be measured, and therefore all other so-called human considerations must fall by the wayside.

These stories put into stark relief the age-old struggle between Jews and the nations of the world regarding the definition of human life. If man was meant to live for his self- edification, or is he meant to live for ideals more important than himself. Human civilization is "human" and not animal, to the extent that it has assimilated the Jewish definition of humanity. From the time since mankind has turned away from the Jewish definition of life, the world has sunk deeper and deeper into barbarity.

About the Author

Visitor Comments: 14

(13)
Kenan Moss,
December 24, 2013 2:58 PM

What is culture?

Culture is merely the manner in which a group of people behaves: it is the acts which give them coherence - a sense of identity. It implies the existance of a model usually supplied by some class or group accepted as representing the essence of "usness". With the rise of academe as a defining measure of status (not birth or wealth) there arose its distictive mark: language. Through it they could recognize each other and distinguish themselves from the hoy polloy (from which many had proudly managed to escape). These private languages (there are as many of them as there are professions) are what give them the status they yearn for and the inability of the masses to understand their discourse is their greatest conquest. However, unlike an aristocracy that has arisen over time and exists because of its close relation to the people and whose leadership is accepted for its protection and beneficence: these new leaders are "luftmenschen". They have no commitment to anything other than their own self-importance. It is in such conditions of intellectual betrayal that figures like Hitler arise and drown the incomprehensible babble with a unifying call to action to those left to drown in impotent anomie.

(12)
Jessi Matherly,
February 9, 2009 8:27 PM

It was helpful for my paper

I would like to say thank you for this helpful webpage, although i loath Hitler and all he did, I still must write a paper on it, and i found this particularly helpful.
:D

(11)
cindy haas,
April 2, 2007 9:34 PM

Comments on this article

Hello:I just wanted to comment on how terribly sad and interesting at the same time your article was on the Holocaust, and I nearly cry everytime I read something about it, especially Anne Frank, thanks Cindy Haas

(10)
Stephanie,
July 19, 2006 12:00 AM

I Hate Them

I have about 50 Holocaust books in my collection. One of my newer acquisitions is one based on Mengele's experiments. I felt hatred before reading that particular one, and after, I felt more hatred. Now, after reading this article, I have even more loathing for the Germans; keep telling all generations so that they may never forget, but in my opinion, with all the people that suffered, MY people, I can feel all the hatred and loathing I want. I won't get past it, or forgive. Not in this lifetime, or any other. If given the chance, I personally would dispatch all the Natzi's by hand, if only I could go back in time. To defend my Jewish Brethren, to help them, to keep that massacre from occuring, would be my greatest wish. To all the survivors, I love you, and am grateful you all had the courage and faith to survive. To all the lost souls, I pray for you daily, and wish the Natzi's souls are rotting in hell being tortured in a worse way than any torture they inflicted on my people. Am I mad? Angry? Hateful? Resentful? Full of spite and malice for the Germans? Harboring a grudge? Yes yes yes. Thank you for this opportunity to comment, and thank you for this forum in which to read and learn more on the subject.

Deborah Waynick,
June 9, 2013 10:26 PM

Comment to Stephanie

I was enlighted even more with the brief writing from the Rabbi. Thank you. My comment is more toward a comment made by Stephanie. Stephanie, I do not know how old you are, regardless this must be stated! NOT ALL GERMANS WERE NAIZS, THERE WERE SOME GERMANS WHO WERE, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER GERMAN'S WHO WERE NOT! Please seek some help with you feeling that All of Germans were NAZIS. That is a rediculous uneducated statement you made everythime you condemmed all Germans. Shalom

(9)
Ben,
April 27, 2003 12:00 AM

The Torah...

... tells us that esau, the fair haired light skinned hunter was the father of amalek, the german race. The midrash for Esther states that from hamman's offspring (a direct descendant of amalek), a nation of the name "germamia" would be born. The germanic race is the spawn of amalek today and forever more. "Cultured" nations have always tended to be the most barbaric and beast-like amongst the nations.

(8)
Anonymous,
May 3, 2002 12:00 AM

noble-ennoble

Did Mengele have a taste for that kind of music which ennobles the soul, or rather, was he really able to perform in such a manner? Perhaps he knew well how to bark on the violin; a good imitator of a memorized impression of how something should sound. I differentiate between talented and gifted musicians. Schoenberg's Moses and Aaron seems to have caused a bit of chaos... or? There seems to be something of a mysterious predestination involved in the process of creating great music.

(7)
Anonymous,
April 10, 2002 12:00 AM

The article makes a very important and true point: an affinity for the fine arts does not make one automatically a good person. Nevertheless, after the incidents of September 11 it is more questionable than ever if religion does a better job than the humanities in this respect. Religion, too, can be turned into a dangerous weapon by people who pervert the underlying values. So the question remains: how can the nations of the world be educated to turn away from destructive forces?

(6)
marry smith,
April 9, 2002 12:00 AM

great point

It is very important for all the people to see that smooth talking and good propoganda can affect us. That is what the story's point too. I hope that the world will wake up before it's too late and see how Jews suffer now and no amount of education make any of leaders more sensitive to the suffering and protecting innocent without thinking about oil instad of lives.

(5)
,
April 8, 2002 12:00 AM

Well written and meaningful content; even my non-jewish friends appreciated it! It shouldn't be considered just Holocost article, because the issues you bring up are well alive today and not only for jews, but for all people.

(4)
Mark Asher,
April 8, 2002 12:00 AM

Who can say more?

The Rabbi has diagnosed what ails our society and the world. One slight criticism: Comparing Mengele to the beasts is a slander to the animal kingdom.

(3)
liz serrano,
April 8, 2002 12:00 AM

I just wanted to say that some of these pictures on here are not moving at all...but this was a very good article about the holocaust. I also think it is a good idea for these articles to be present on the site because it can give us a little bit of information on what out families been through. It is very, very upsetting to know that we have so many harsh people in this world....God Bless you.

(2)
Anonymous,
April 8, 2002 12:00 AM

German Culture

German culture studies were held extensively for officer candidates in the German Army. This course for young proven soldiers to mold them into officers included study to make them "gentlemen". Proper dining etiquette, ballroom dancing, and appreciation of German classical music was all in the program. These schools for officer candidates were called Junker Schulen (leadership school). Run by an old time Prussian with one eye named Hausner. Physical conditioning and athletic prowess was taught to the candidates by Olympic athletics, the candidates being bought to a very high level of physical excellence.

Al L.

(1)
Anonymous,
April 7, 2002 12:00 AM

Superb!

An excellently written article like this should be included in every schools curriculum on Holocaust education.In 2002, we still think, to know culture- is to be human. How sad!Thank you, for your important message.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...